The RINO (Republican In Name Only) is a large, Democrat-looking mammal that dates back to the Progressive era of about 100 years ago. In recent elections, RINOs have been relentlessly hunted to the point of being endangered.
Through movements such as the Tea Party, along with the conservative base of the Republican party, they are now facing the very real possibility of extinction.
While RINOs saw their numbers grow as they learned to co-habitate with donkeys and elephants, they began to see a decline in their population during the 1980s, a period known as the Era of Reagan. Even as they struggle to survive, only a few of their breed remain today.
RINOs exist in two subspecies, comprising a northern type and a southern type. As they evolved, it was believed that the southern species of RINO had already become extinct, but the election of Senators Lindsey Graham (NC) and Mel Martinez (FL) indicate that they are still thriving in that environment.
The northern RINO has managed to survive by hiding out in the native habitat of the donkey. Olympia Snowe (ME) and Susan Collins (ME) have become the strongest of the northern species, but there have been casualties as well, such as Arlen Specter (PA).
While rare, RINOs have even been spotted in the more remote areas of the American West. John McCain (NV) and Robert Bennett (UT) have managed to survive in this normally hostile environment. This population, however, has been the most severely threatened by the current political conflict and instability.
Perhaps nothing is more of a threat to the survival of the RINO than the behavior they exhibit.
RINOs live in home ranges that sometimes overlap with other Republicans. They can be either solitary or gregarious and become rather ill-tempered when disturbed by Conservative members of the Republican party. They are rather short-sighted which is probably why they sometimes attack anyone who challenges them without apparent reason.
While considered less agile than Conservative Republicans, the RINO can quickly turn in a small space, allowing it to reverse itself a full 180 degrees on an issue when politically expedient. It’s this ability that makes them so dangerous, and is the primary reason for their endangered status.
For instance, under growing pressure from conservatives and “tea party” activists concerning his vote last year in support of the TARP Bill, John McCain made one of those quick turns as he claimed he was “mislead” by then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Even RINOs not yet in Washington find themselves on the verge of extinction. A special election in NY district 23 last year saw Dede Scozzafava lose to the Democrat running against her after the conservative candidate, Doug Hoffman, took votes from her. In Florida, Governor Charlie Crist’s staffers are jumping ship as he finds himself losing to Marco Rubio after leading by double digits just a few months ago.
There are a myriad of political movements contributing to the demise of the RINO, so their dramatic decline in number should come as no surprise in an era of increasing conservatism and political awareness.
They may be endangered now, but they could soon become extinct.
What others had to say:
- Attention, GOP: John McCain is the problem – Michelle Malkin
- McCain: I was misled into supporting TARP – Hot Air
- Tweedle Dee John McCain “Misled” on Stimulus | REPUBLICAN REDEFINED
- Abandon ship: Two key staffers leave Crist’s campaign – Hot Air
- Who needs the RINOs in the Senate??? Make way for the new GOP leadership – GOP Mike’s Blog
- Top 10 Senate RINOs – Human Events
- Top 10 House RINOs – Human Events